Temperature indicator



Feb. 14, 1939. G. E. FORD TEMPERATURE INDICATOR Filed April 14, 1937 liikl //V//////////////// WVVVV zls ATTORNEY.

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TEMPERATURE INDICATOR George 1:. mo, mam, N. refs-unuto Rochester Manufacturing 00., Inc., Rochester. N. Y., a corporation of New .Applicaticn April 14. 1937, was... new

mm. (cigar-ti This invention relates to a temperature indicator, with reference more particularly to the general type of construction, in .which there is a metal bulb containing a vaporizable liquid and 5 connected with an indicating-means by a capillary or conducting tube, and has for its object to aiford a protecting means for the conducting, tube at thepoints where it is joined to the fittings of the bulb and indicating instrument.

The capillary or conducting tube is of such a character that it can be readily bent, resulting in injury or fracture of the tube if excessive bending takes place adjacent to the connections of the tube with the instrument or bulb, and

it is more particularly an object of the invention to surround the conducting tube at these points with a means that permits a certain amount of bending of the tube, but effectually prevents excessive bending with relation to the fittings,

and also reduces or dampens vibration of the To these and other ends, the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts that will appear clearly from the following-description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, the novel features being pointed out in the claim following the specification.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a general view in elevation, partially in section, illustrating the application of the invention to a temperature indicator, and showing it applied to the fittings at both the instrument and bulb ends of the structure;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing the application at the bulb end of the mechanism, and

Fig. 3 is a similai\ view showing a slightlymodified arrangement. I

Referring more particularly to the drawing in which like reference characters refer to'the same parts throughout the several views, I desi'gnates in general the instrument or indicating means, and 2 is the conducting or capillary tube 5 leading therefrom to the liquid-containing bulb 3 which is immersedin liquid in the engine block or other chamber 4, the latter being provided with a fitting 5 to receive and hold the bulb which is held in place by a suitable nut 6.

50 The conducting tube 2 may be united to the bulb 3 in any preferred manner, and in the construction shown, this connection is accomplished through a sleeve I provided with an annular supporting plate I which is adapted to be secured as in the fitting i, in accordance with the construction disclosed in my Patent No. 2,127,592 of August 23, 1938.

In order to prevent the conducting tube from being bent. excessively at a point adjacent to the fitting 5, or similarly with reference to the 5 fitting at the instrument or indicating means I, a metal protecting sheath is provided around the conducting tube, preferably including an inner reduced portion 9 closely fitting and fixedly attached to the sleeve 1, and an outer enlarged m portion III that is spaced from the conducting tube 2 so as to permit a certain amount of lateral movement or bending of the tube with relation to the bulb, but preventing any bending at a sharp angle adjacent to the sleeve I. 15

The reduced portion 9 of the protecting sheath may be secured to the sleeve 1 and to the conducting tube by solder suitably arranged therebetween, and there is preferably employed a body I l of resilient material, such as soft rubber, interposed between the enlarged outer portion III of the protecting sheath and the conducting tube.

In Fig. 2, the conducting tube is shown provided with a braided armor l2, and the resilient 25 or rubber body ll may be moulded or vulcanized in place around the armor I! in this form, or where the conducting tube is surrounded by a metal coil such as l3, as in Fig. 3, the rubber body ll may be either moulded in place or 30 suitably formed to thread it around the metal coil I3 within the protecting sheath ll, or cemented in position.

The rubber or resilient body ll resists lateral movement of the conducting tube, but is sufllciently yieldable to permit a certain amount of bending, which is positively limited by the enlarged portion ID of the protecting sheath, the

amount of possible flexing of the conducting tube being determined by the space allowed between the conducting tube and the enlarged portion III of the protecting sheath.

It will be understood that a similar construction .is employed also at the indicator end of the structure, surrounding the conductingtube and attached to the fitting which connects it to. the indicating means.

'While the invention has been disclosed with reference to. a particular structural embodiment, it is not limited to the details herein set forth, and this application is intended to cover any modifications or departures coming within the intent of the improvements or the scope of the following claim. 5

enlarged and reduced portions or the sheath to the point of said sleeve. 9. body of solder surrounding said .armor and located beyond said sleeve between the tube and the reduced portion of the sheath. and a'body of resilient material filling the space in the enlarsed portion of said sheath around said armor and located between the said aolder and the outer end oi the sheath.

GEORGE E. FORD. 0 

